Iran To Look 'Seriously' At Russian Enrichment Proposal

Iranian and Russian workers at the Bushehr nuclear plant in Iran (file photo) (epa)
28 December 2005 -- Iran says it is ready to study a Russian proposal aimed at addressing international concerns about its nuclear program.

Javad Vaidi, Iran's top nuclear negotiator, said today that Tehran would "seriously" study Moscow's proposal to form a joint venture and enrich uranium in Russia.

Reports said Vaidi's remarks were the most positive yet by a senior Iranian official about the Russian proposal. However, Vaidi also reiterated that Iran would not give up what it sees as its right to produce nuclear fuel at home.

The Russian proposal, backed by the European Union and the United States, seeks to get Iran to enrich uranium abroad to ensure that it can't produce atomic weapons.

The proposal follows the resumption this month of talks between Iran and Germany, France, and Britain, which negotiate on behalf of the EU. The talks are to continue in January.